Rene (as she was known to her friends) was born on Tyneside, NE England
but moved to South Devon with her parents at the age of 10. She trained
as a teacher, specialising in history. Her research led to countless articles
on history, travel, social customs, and short stories appearing in a wide
variety of newspapers and magazines at home and abroad. After receiving
over 100 rejection slips, her first novel, ‘PHYLLIDA’, was published in
1976. A steady stream of books followed, which she fitted in between caring
for her husband and two daughters, becoming a founder member of Brixham
Writers’ Circle, a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, Librarian
of Brixham Museum, and Reader for the South West Arts.

Rene enjoyed meeting readers and writers in all genre, fiction and non-fiction.
She gave talks at various writers’ schools and clubs across the country,
often acting as an awards adjudicator for competitions throughout SW England.

Until her death in June 1993 Rene had written 20 fiction titles and
1 non-fiction. These have generated 47 reprints, 28 of them being issued
posthumously. Her Devon trilogy, TO DREAM AGAIN, A SAFE HAVEN and DAUGHTER
OF THE RIVER, her last novels, were re-issued in paperback in 2000 by Caxton
Group Publishing, 20 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QA.

TO DREAM AGAIN (published June 2000)

When Mercy Seaton meets Peter Lisburne at the annual Torquay regatta she
regards him as a rich boy toying with a poor girl. But she likes him, and
he genuinely likes her. In the sweet young laundress Peter finds an escape
from his mother’s cloying world of social obligations. Before long he had
swept Mercy into marriage and a life of luxury at which her enigmatic grandmother’s far-fetched tales of past wealth had only hinted.

Mercy soon realises she cannot force her husband’s friends into accepting
her. Despite her discomfort in the drawing-rooms of Edwardian society she
is beginning to win friends of her own. One in particular looks set to
change the course of her life for ever. When the Great War intervenes and
the Depression in its aftermath, the Lisburnes’ fortune is virtually wiped
out. Great sacrifices are to be made if the family are to remain in England,
and it is at this point Mercy has a dream, founded in reality, which might
just solve all their problems…

A SAFE HAVEN (published March 2000)

Hardly out of childhood, Amy Kennedy, and fellow orphans Seth, Jay and
Daisy are sent from the Lambeth Workhouse in London to the Devon port of
Brixham to be taken into service, the girls as maidservants, the boys as
apprentices on a trawler. Although her initiation into her job is hard,
Amy quickly finds her feet, and shortly her horizons are brightened by
an attentive young man, Daniel Newton, the son of a prosperous sea captain.
The others fare less well; Daisy is clearly miserable in her work and,
despite Jed’s protection, dreamy Seth founders in the harsh realities of
a fisherman’s life.

As time passes Mercy grows very worried about Daisy who, swearing her
friend to secrecy, finally confides that she is the powerless victim of
her employer’s sexual abuse. Then the tragedy Amy had feared might happen
becomes reality – a tragedy which is to have far-reaching repercussions,
not only on Daisy, but on Seth, Jed and Amy herself…

DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER (published March 2000)

Pretty Maddy Shillabeer had long resigned herself to the fact that her
lot in life was to care for her widowed father and her hard-living, troublesome
brothers. In any case, were she to marry she would have hardly any choice
of suitors since the number of eligible men was limited. One in particular,
Cal Whitcomb, a kinsman of hers, could never be considered, as his family,
according to her father, had appropriated the rich Devon land that was
rightfully theirs; instead of farming the Shillabeers had had to turn to
salmon fishing on the River Dart, and they carried a grudge against the
Whitcombs for it ever since.

One day a new arrival appears at Duncannon – Patrick Howard, who finds
employment as a pot-boy in an inn at nearby Stoke Gabriel. Soon he has
supplanted the ancient Henry Beer as the village fiddler and leader of
the church band. And, to the great consternation of her brothers, he has
charmed his way into their Maddy’s heart…

Historical Romance as Irene Northan

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

Title

Ref

Publishers Details

Date

Notes

PHYLLIDA – a Georgian Romance

ISBN 0709155166

Robert Hale & Co., London

1976

Hardback

American edition

ISBN 0449234592

Fawcett Books, Greenwich,
Connecticut, USA

1976

Paperback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708941257

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1999

THE TINNER’S BRIDE

ISBN 0708936393

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1977

Hardback

Woman’s Weekly Library

IPC Magazines Ltd, London

1982

Paperback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708979734

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1996

A TREACHEROUS SEASON

ISBN 0709164750

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1978

Hardback

Woman’s Weekly Library

IPC Magazines Ltd, London

1978

Paperback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708935583

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1996

MISS ASTBURY AND MILORDDO – a Regency Romance

ISBN 0709190409

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1981

Hardback

Woman’s Weekly Library

IPC Magazines Ltd, London

1982

Paperback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708979734

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1996

THE INCOMPARABLE LYDIA – a
Georgian Romance

ISBN 0709194528

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1981

Hardback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708979289

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1996

THE MARRIAGE BROKERS – a Regency Romance

ISBN 0709011202

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1983

Hardback

American edition

ISBN 0373311427

Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada

1991

Paperback

German edition, “VERWIRRENDES SPIEL UM MIRANDA”

CORA Verlag, Berlin

1991

Paperback

Australasian edition

ISBN 0373311427

Harlequin Books, Chatswood, NSW, Australia

1991

Paperback

*Czechoslovakian edition, “DOHAZOVACI”

ISBN 8071704067

Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada

1995

Paperback

*Brazilian edition

Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada

1995

Paperback

THE HOLLANDER’S DAUGHTER

ISBN 0709016166

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1984

Hardback

Large Print edition

ISBN 0708971342

F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1992

TO DREAM AGAIN – an Edwardian Romance

ISBN 0747202087

Headline Book Publishers, London

1991

Paperback edition

ISBN 0747234132

Headline Book Publishers, London

1991

*Paperback edition

ISBN 1840672552

Caxton Publishing Group, London

2000

Publication expected June 2000

A SAFE HAVEN – a Victorian
Romance

ISBN 0747205426

Headline Book Publishers,
London

1992

Hardback

*Paperback edition

ISBN 0747239738

Headline Book Publishers,
London

1993

*Paperback edition

ISBN 1840672021

Caxton Publishing Group, London

2000

*DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER – a Victorian Romance

ISBN 0747207798

Headline Book Publishers, London

1993

Hardback

*Paperback edition

ISBN 074724295X

Headline Book Publishers, London

1994

*Paperback edition

ISBN 1840672013

Caxton Publishing Group, London

2000

HISTORICAL ROMANCE under the pseudonym

ELIZABETH LOWTHER

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

Title

Ref

Publishers Details

Date

Notes

DAY OF RECKONING

ISBN 0263121941

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1989

Hardback

Paperback edition

ISBN 0263764869

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1989

French edition, “LES MARAIS
DE SEDGEWICK”

ISBN 228002067X

Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris

1989

Paperback

THE RANSOMED BRIDE

ISBN 0263124258

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey

1989

Hardback

Paperback edition

ISBN 0263767264

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey

1989

French edition, “UNE ROSE POUR UN TROUBADOUR”

ISBN 2280020718

Harlequin, Série Royale, Paris

1990

Paperback

German edition, “DIE BRETONISCHE BRAUT”

CORA Verlag, Berlin

1990

Paperback

*Italian edition “AMORE E TORMENTO”

ISSN 11247320

Harlequin Mondadori, Milan

1997

Paperback

LOVE’S PAROLE – a Georgian
Romance

ISBN 0263127346

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1990

Hardback

Paperback edition

ISBN 0263771504

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1990

French edition, “LE BAISER
DU SALON DU MUSIQUE”

ISBN 228002084X

Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris

1991

Paperback

*American edition

ISBN n/k

Harlequin Books, Toronto,
Canada

1993

Paperback

A SINGULAR ELOPEMENT

ISBN 0263777200

Mills & Boon, Richmond, Surrey

1992

One of four stories appearing in the REGENCY
QUARTET, Paperback

FUGUE A L’ITALIENNE

ISBN 2280022001

Harlequin Books

1999

Paperback

BREATH OF SCANDAL

ISBN 0263134512

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1992

Hardback

Paperback edition

ISBN 0263779904

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1992

*French edition, “LES JARDINS
DE BAD ADLER”

ISBN 2280021102

Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris

1993

Paperback

*Large print edition

ISBN 135535

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey

1993

*Italian edition, “L’UOMO
IN FRAC”

ISSN 1124-7320

Harlequin Mondadori, Milan

1997

Paperback

*GAMBLER’S WEDDING – a Regency Romance

ISBN 0263136434

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey

1994

Hardback

*Paperback edition

ISBN 0263782514

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey

1994

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0263140148

Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey

1994

*French edition, “MARRIAGE POUR UN JOUER”

ISBN 228002126

Harlequin, Série Royale, Paris

1994

Paperback

*German edition, “DIE VERPFANDETE BRAUT”

CORA Verlag, Berlin

1995

Paperback

*Italian edition

ISSN n/k

Harlequin Mondatori, Milan

1999

Paperback

*American edition “GAMBLER’S WEDDING”

ISBN 0373303688

Harlequin Books, Toronto

2000

Paperback

MODERN ROMANCE under pseudonym NERINA THORNE

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

Title

Ref

Publishers Details

Date

Notes

NORMANDY SUMMER

ISBN 0709199244

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1982

Hardback

German edition, “AUFREGENDER
SOMMER IN DER NORMANDIE”

Martin Keller Verlag, Hamburg

1982

Paperback

*Large Print edition

ISBN 0708951228

F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1997

SPRING TEMPEST

Woman’s Weekly Library, IPC Magazines Ltd, London

1985

Paperback

SOLANGE’S DAUGHTER

ISBN 0709019297

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1985

Hardback

*Large print edition

ISBN 0708974031

F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1993

AMSTERDAM AFFAIR

ISBN 0709029268

Robert Hale Ltd, London

1987

Hardback

Large Print edition

ISBN 0708971385

F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire

1992

Sound Tape edition

ISBN 1854965948

Soundings Ltd, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear

1992

*Paperback edition

ISBN (Later Date)

D.C. Thomson, Dundee

2000

NON-FICTION under own name IRENE NORTHAN

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

Title

Ref

Publishers Details

Date

Notes

VISIT HISTORIC HOMES IN DEVON

ISBN 0951186604

D.R. Northan

1987

Paperback

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One thought on “Irene Northan”

Cloud Man is Marian Bull’s first novel set in Brixham in the 1940’s. Enjoying Irene Northan’s novel A Safe Haven inspired Marian to recall her memories of her teenage years in wartime and postwar Brixham and weave them into a novel. She has a five star rating on Amazon